Crank fell off on ride. WWYD?

[Julibird]

Is this the place to post my Q.?

Well - I was on my new pride and joy, enjoying mile 52 of a perfect days ride, climbing a roller and wondering if my cleat was coming loose, when suddenly the crank came loose. I stopped, uncleated, and pulled the crank right off.

I probably have less than 150 miles on the whole bike, kept off my trainer, and am really surprised this happened. It is a Gossamer/FSA double crank set on an otherwise full Ultegra/SL group.

I took it back to LBS, where the employees discussed seeing this happen three times already, and kindly fixed it with Locktite. I was told that "it should be fine, but to keep an eye on it". Wow - I'm not overwhelmed with confidence.

I realized this morning that I don't want to go out on my bike worrying about when my crank will fall off again. I have two small kids, y'know? I called LBS and spoke to the owner. He politely told me that these things happen from time to time - but I said I'm too squeamish to use this crankset, and asked him to work a deal where I upgrade to the Ultegra/SL double. He agreed and ordered it - we did not discuss terms.

What would you do? I don't want to be a d*ck, but I also think that I should not have to buy a second crank at full retail, nor is it acceptable to have to worry about the locktite on my original crank loosening up in another 100 miles. What do you ladies advise about this whole thing?

Thanks - J-bird

[mimitabby]

I guess i'd feel icky like you do. Hopefully they will give you a good deal

i had to laugh at the brand name though;

gossamer n. A soft sheer gauzy fabric. Something delicate, light, or flimsy.

[Julibird]

gossamer n. A soft sheer gauzy fabric. Something delicate, light, or flimsy.

Spewing my coffee!

[Flybye]

I took it back to LBS, where the employees discussed seeing this happen three times already, and kindly fixed it with Locktite. I was told that "it should be fine, but to keep an eye on it". Wow - I'm not overwhelmed with confidence.

This makes me CRINGE!! What bike do you ride? I think I'd contact the company that makes the bike. Were all 3 bikes the same as yours?

[tulip]

Depending on the bike, the cranks were either installed at the factory or the bike shop. You should find out. If it's the bike company, they have a quality control issue. If it's the bike shop, they have a mechanic issue. Either way, it's a dangerous situation for you (and obviously a few other people).

[Julibird]

This makes me CRINGE!! What bike do you ride? I think I'd contact the company that makes the bike. Were all 3 bikes the same as yours?

It is an Orbea, and no, the other bikes were different makes, types.

Depending on the bike, the cranks were either installed at the factory or the bike shop. You should find out. If it's the bike company, they have a quality control issue. If it's the bike shop, they have a mechanic issue. Either way, it's a dangerous situation for you (and obviously a few other people).

They were installed one sleepy day back in December right in the shop. A reputable LBS. I got the impression at the shop (from the employees - in the back where I was standing as they went over my bike) and from a quick google search that this particular crank model is a problem. I think I'll write to Orbea, but I want to wait and see what LBS does first.

[Running Mommy]

Most (all in our shops case) bikes come into the shop w/ the cranks/groupset already installed. I really wouldn't blame the lbs at this point- unless of course you've seen a pattern.
Tho the shop should do a thorough run through before the bike leaves the workstand. Our guys go through EVERYTHING. And give them a good test ride.
That being said, things do happen. We sell lot's of bike w/ that crankset, and I've had the same set on my bike for three years now w/ no problems. My guess is that they aren't installing them correctly at the factory.
Remember- it's a sad reality but most bikes are made/assembled in Taiwan or china. I can't tell you how many bikes come in w/ major issues right out of the box. Even our Bianchi's have had "issues".

My guess is that it was a fluke and the crankset will be fine, but I don't blame you for not wanting to chance it. And in reality the lbs owner can call the manufacturer's warranty dept and get a new one for you.

edit to add that I discussed this thread w/ my mechanic and he said it very well could be a problem w/the crank, and he wouldn't trust it either. BUT you shouldn't have to pay for an all new crank. THO if you want to upgrade, then yeah you should have to bear the cost of the upgrade. basically the lbs owner can call the manu and get a replacement crank for free, but to buy the upgrade HE has to put out $$ in the cost of the new crank. And it's not like the manu will refund him money, so yeah... expect to pay at least cost on the new set.

[Julibird]

edit to add that I discussed this thread w/ my mechanic and he said it very well could be a problem w/the crank, and he wouldn't trust it either. BUT you shouldn't have to pay for an all new crank. THO if you want to upgrade, then yeah you should have to bear the cost of the upgrade. basically the lbs owner can call the manu and get a replacement crank for free, but to buy the upgrade HE has to put out $$ in the cost of the new crank. And it's not like the manu will refund him money, so yeah... expect to pay at least cost on the new set.

Thank you! This is precisely the kind of guidance I was hoping to find. So helpful!

[short cut sally]

I had this happen to me last year on my new bike. I had maybe 4 or 500 miles on it..thought the same thing that my cleat was coming loose. I was going up a hill and thought something just wasn't right. Luckily I was on a century ride and the mechanic did a quick fix and I got home to call the shop where I bought the bike from. I had my DH torque down the bolt/nut to the recommended torque and it's been fine ever since. I've put almost 2000 miles on it since then and it's never bothered again. I do check it every now and then and that is something I had never thought to check before when I was doing basics on my bike.

[bike4ever]

I would request he credit you the cost of the FSA crankset with you paying the upgrade. I have dealt with faulty cranksets and sometimes Loctite still won't work.

[SalsaMTB]

I spoke with my husband....he said the same. It's a problem with the Gossamer. He has one in the shop right now that came back because the crank loosened up. He hasn't had any brought back after fixing it, but if the shop will work out a deal for you to upgrade to an ultregra and you can afford it, go for it!

[jeannierides]

J-Bird

Insisting that your bike is assembled correctly is not being a D**K. Your LBS has a responsibility to you as a customer. The fact that it may have been assembled by someone else does not change that responsibility. That being said, mistakes can happen and I am glad you were not injured.

This is one of SO's favorite pictures.

[Julibird]

Whoa, that's a picture! That's pretty much what happened to me.

And - my LBS made me very happy today. They replaced the crank set with an uprgrade to Ultegra/SL at a steeply discounted price, possibly below cost (which I did not expect), and also just gave the bike some extra TLC, and remounted my computer in a really slick way (wires). I am very happy. They were very nice about the whole thing.

And they are writing to Orbea about the FSA Gossamer problem.

Me Happy.

[GuitarRiderGrrl]

J-Bird

Insisting that your bike is assembled correctly is not being a D**K. Your LBS has a responsibility to you as a customer. The fact that it may have been assembled by someone else does not change that responsibility. That being said, mistakes can happen and I am glad you were not injured.

This is one of SO's favorite pictures.

This is to say the least a HUGE safety issue! I can't imagine an lbs taking this in a cavalier way...
and as for the picture....
Yikes!!!!!

[DebW]

One of the instructors at my UBI class last week was formerly a product manager for Giant. He explained that when manufacturers are choosing parts to meet a price point on a particular bike model, they will often go with a respected rear derailleur (ie. Ultegra) and a cheaper front derailleur and crankset. This is because the average customer will see the rear derailleur and think of the bike as coming with Ultegra, ie. it sells as if it were full Ultegra. A savvy mechanic or well-informed customer knows that the bike would run better if it had an Ultegra crankset and FD and a cheaper RD. But such are the vagaries of the marketplace.